This blog covers all aspects of the rich history of rowing, as a sport, culture phenomena, a life style, and a necessary element to keep your wit and stay sane.

Photograph: Werner Schmidt

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Tim Koch: 2012 Henley Royal Regatta – The Winners

Tim Koch reports from England:

Uniquely in the international rowing scene, Henley Royal Regatta does not operate under the rules of the international governing body, FISA, or of the British governing body, British Rowing, as it existed long before these young upstarts came into being. Thus, in an Olympic year, it finds itself outside of the run up to the big event. ‘The Royal’ is not especially put out by this and strives to put on the best show it can. Thus, 2012 saw a large turnout of Under 23s, lightweights, development crews and those who had missed Olympic selection, many aware that this could be their best chance of winning at such a prestigious regatta. There was only one crew competing that was bound for the Olympics, the German Women’s Eight.

The very strong stream caused by the land water from recent heavy rain and frequent headwinds gave the lightweight rowers and scullers and the new junior women’s quad event a hard time and no course records were broken. More importantly the stream made things very difficult for those on the ‘Bucks’ (town side) station in the later stages of the race. For the spectators the weather conditions were more benign than conditions preceding the Regatta had threatened.

There was an entry of 499 with 133 crews and scullers from overseas. Taking a parochial view of the Regatta, ten of the twenty trophies went abroad. This is no reflection on the state of British rowing. With the old country competing in 13 of the 14 events at Dorney, the cream of British rowing is in pre-Olympic training.

Here is a round up of Sunday’s finals with apologies to those I have not pictured, this is not a reflection of your efforts.

The 1 Mile marker in the background shows that at that point, Leander had a clear water lead over Harvard. The 1 1/8 Mile marker in the foreground shows that at that point Leander’s lead had been reduced to 1/3 of a length.

Passing the Progress Board. With less than ten strokes to go, Leander still lead.

The boats cross the line. Leander’s rowing became increasingly ineffective towards the end – had they let Harvard through?

Harvard number 3, DiSanto, is confident that they won.

The Leander cox raises her hand to speak to the Umpire.

A photo-finish gave it to Harvard by one foot in the fastest time of the day.

The legendary Harry Parker, Harvard coach for fifty years. It was his 11th Henley win. I have no knowledge as to the current state of Harry’s health but he looked well to me. In his speech, Henley Chairman Mike Sweeney paid tribute to Harry’s semi-centenary and the crowd responded warmly to the sentiment. I witnessed a most telling incident which showed the respect and affection with which Coach Parker is held. A very senior Steward of the Regatta, a man who is the epitome of the British ‘stiff upper lip’, greeted Harry with a spontaneous hug. You have to be very special for an Englishman of this gentleman’s age and class to act like this.

2013 Rowing History Blog Award

2012 Rowing History Blog Award

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‘Hear the Boat Sing’ (HTBS) was founded in 2009 by Göran R Buckhorn, a Swede living in Connecticut, a magazine editor, culture scribe and a rowing historian. In 1990, Göran co-founded the Swedish rowing magazine, “Svensk Rodd”, for which he is now a contributing editor. He has written numerous articles on rowing, and is one of the Directors of Friends of Rowing History and a member of BARJ, the British Association of Rowing Journalists. Regular contributors to HTBS are: rowing historians Tim Koch and Greg Denieffe, both in England; Hélène Rémond, France; and Philip Kuepper, Connecticut. Besides writing articles on The Boat Race, the Henley Royal Regatta, the Wingfield Sculls, and the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race, Tim has made some rowing documentaries. He is also a Director of the Friends of Rowing History and a member of BARJ. Greg is an Irishman who specializes on Irish rowing. Some of his finest pieces are on HTBS. Hélène, who wrote her thesis on British rowing, has covered The Boat Race and the Henley Regatta for French papers and HTBS, also shooting beautiful photos for this blog. Philip’s poems on rowing have topics about everything between the daily life and the divine.